European Commission urged to apply rule-of-law conditionality mechanism
European Union lawmakers on Thursday adopted a resolution urging the European Commission to activate a mechanism in the bloc’s budget that links EU funding to the rule of law in the interest of protecting the budget and EU values.
In the resolution passed with 529 votes in favour, 150 against and 14 abstentions, MEPs expressed regret that the EC had decided to abide by the European Council’s non-binding conclusions issued in connection with the conditionality mechanism last December and “declared that it would develop guidelines for the application” of the regulation.
“The budget conditionality regulation does not require any additional clarification and rule of law breaches must be addressed as soon as possible,” MEPs said in a statement.
They said the EC’s guidelines on the application of the conditionality mechanism must not alter, expand or restrict the regulation. In order for the guidelines to add any value, they must clarify how the legislative provisions will be applied in practice and outline the methodology of the procedure.
Lawmakers also called on the EC to investigate without delay “any potential breaches of the principles of the rule of law that affect or seriously risk affecting the sound financial management” of the EU budget. “The situation in some Member States already warrants immediate action,” the resolution adds.
Commenting on the resolution, ruling Fidesz’s MEP group said that “the left is turning the European Parliament into an impromptu tribunal.”
By voting in favour of the resolution on the EU’ budget’s rule-of-law conditionality mechanism, the EP’s left-wing majority has once again declared its political intention to severely restrict Hungary and Poland’s sovereignty and help put leftist puppet governments in power that would serve the interests of Brussels.
Fidesz MEP Tamás Deutsch said Thursday’s resolution was “yet another attack on EU law, common European values and European cooperation”.
“Do not doubt for a second that we will fight for our freedom and independence,” he said.
“Hungary is a well-functioning democracy, an honest state governed by the rule of law where fundamental rights are guaranteed. In fact, people in Hungary have more freedoms than on the western half of the continent.”
Ádám Kósa, another MEP of Fidesz, said the EP’s “political rampage motivated by various interests” had “irreversibly tarnished” the prestige of the legislative body. “These processes must be stopped because these are what pose the real danger to Europe’s rule of law,” he added.
4 Comments
From Tamás Deutsch
“Hungary is a well-functioning democracy, an honest state governed by the rule of law where fundamental rights are guaranteed. In fact, people in Hungary have more freedoms than on the western half of the continent”. ?
? fully agree with first comment…
Herr Deutsch is a joke, makes a great match with Mrs. Varga, the one everyone openly laughed at when she said that 80 % of media in Hungary is against the regime.
This whole regime is, in fact, just a joke.
Hungary has a long history of shooting itself in the foot and it appears that it has learned nothing as it continues to do the same.
Victor Orban – played the man and the referees – WHISTLE – has sent him to the “sin” bin.
It is deepening the typecast – being by vote and weight of numbers – YES votes to No – numbers displayed from Brussels on Thursday – that Victor Orban – Hungary – by the Prime Ministers course of actions and strategies – that have been the hallmark of his second time in office as Prime Minister of Hungary – has had his legs and ego cut and removed from under him.
Ego – is Dangerous – as when the perceived Mighty Fall – you Fall – and quite often – left in a lonely place of existence – from the abandonment of what previously appeared to you as – Support Friendships.
We will – it has commenced – by the Fidesz Party – the world showpiece – they like to think they are – which is – WRONG – of a Democratic Party – be bombarded with rhetoric – propaganda and political spin – over this Humiliation passed on to Hungary by the European Parliament.
The vote of numbers alone – what a disgrace and degradation to Hungary – bought on through the Political Ideas and Philosophy of Prime Minister – Victor Orban and Fidesz – the catalyst for this worrisome position we Hungary find ourselves “tared and feathered”.
Victor Orban – the “Strong Man of European Politics” – will nor offer any “mia culpa” – the “bullying” of The European Union will continue under his Prime Minister role.
Enough is Enough – Hungary – under Victor Orban with The European Union.
Play by our Rules and Law – or Leave – clear unequivocally – loud message the European Union – handed to Hungary on Thursday.
Has Victor Orban – Fidesz – have they met there Waterloo ?